Two cops, two civilians killed in IIOJ&K shootout

SRINAGAR: A gunbattle Saturday broke out between the freedom fighters and police in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), leading to the death of two police and two civilians, officials said.

Anti-India protests later erupted during the civilians’ funerals in Sopore where the fighting took place, after local residents alleged police had shot and killed one of the civilians after the militants fled the scene, reports the international media.

Police Director-General Dilbag Singh told reporters that the freedom fighters had opened fire on a group of police who were enforcing coronavirus restrictions in the main market of Sopore, and police returned the fire.

Amid the shooting, Singh said two civilians and two policemen were killed, while two officers and a civilian were injured.

Manzoor Ahmed Laway, a fruit vendor, said a police vehicle arrived in the market as his business partner went to have a cup of tea.

“The vehicle came under attack and he was shot in the crossfire,” Laway said.

Hundreds of people participated in separate funerals for the dead civilians in Sopore, where mourners chanted anti-India slogans and called for an end to the Indian illegal rule over the IIOJ&K.